Itâs a great mystery show with innovative technology. Iâm still surprised they come up with new ways of processing evidence. We had a long day yesterday â I was there for 14 hours â but we had to dust for fingerprints. I said to [fellow actress] Jorga Fox: âWhen was the last time we fingerprint-dusted?â she said: âWe used to do it all the time in the early years.â We just havenât done it for a while. Itâs shot on film, so it looks great.

Why has it inspired so many people to study forensics?

Most people are fascinated by a murder mystery and we make it look compelling and interesting. We take great liberties in the process of analysing evidence. We make it look fun and sexy, which it isnât. Itâs hard work and long hours. Most crime labs donât have the equipment we have on our show. We make itÂ look like you can find your guy if you collect enough evidence.

Why are you leaving?

The door is left open for me to return, not that Iâm in hurry to do so, but I really need a break and to recharge myÂ batteries. Iâve been on this great runaway train for 12 years, so I want to step off and look around a bit.

Youâve said you want to do a play in London. What are you looking for?

Iâd love to do one. Iâd need to find the right production. Itâs been a long time since I did a play and I donât want to feel out of my league. I know American actors often feel nervous about going on to a London stage as, traditionally, English actors are trained on the stage. The first thing Iâd choose probably wouldnât be Shakespeare. I would prefer something contemporary.

What inspired you to act?

I grew up in a very small town in Nebraksa and didnât know anyone who was an actor. I grew up thinking Iâd follow in my motherâs footsteps and become a nurse. I saw the movie Oliver and loved it.Â I loved the story, the kids and everyone looked like they were having fun, so that made an impression on me.

What was your first professional role?

On a soap opera called Ryanâs Hope in New York. I was seen in a play at college and was offered a part on the show. It happened very quickly for me. Soap operas are a good first job for young actors. You get a new script every day and are asked to emote, so your instrument and your brain get challenged. You can fall into a trap of doing that specific type of acting but you need to be aware of what else is out there. I was still taking acting classes when I was on that show and did stage- play readings.

You reportedly called Justin Bieber âa bratâ after he guest starred on the show â were you barraged with hate tweets?

If I tweeted I would have done. I couldnât believe what happened with that. IÂ never thought Iâd get that sort of reaction. That was all from an interview I did with a French radio show. I had a translator, so I think maybe something was lost in translation.

Whatâs the worst job youâve had?

Working in a meat-packing plant when I was a teenager. It paid well but was very unpleasant. I was around beef carcasses for eight hours a day.

Who have you learned the most from working with?

Iâm blessed to have worked with really good actors.Â I love working with actors who are alive and on fire. Ted Dansonâs on our show now and I love working with him. Heâs still so curious about how toÂ approach the material and heâs so much fun. I loved working with Laurence Fishburne and Billy Petersen, too.Â I like an actor who still cares about the work and wants to try new things with it, because Iâve worked with actors who are just doing it for the money and thatâs no fun.

Whatâs been your must extravagant purchase?

Iâm not someone who buys jewellery or cars. Iâm a fairly practical person but I like taking lovely vacations. I went to St Barts for New Yearâs Eve with my boyfriend. I hadnât been there since the 1980s. Itâs not the most relaxing place to have a beach holiday now because itâs the playground of Russian billionaires. I was aboard various yachts for New Yearâs Eve â it was astounding. You see everyone; Ron Perlman, Martha Stewart,Â Diane Von Furstenberg, George Lucas. It was surreal.